Lewis County Sirens.com

Flames rise from commercial structure on the 300 block of state Route 508, just east of Interstate 5.

Updated at 1:56 p.m.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A fire last night just east of Napavine is estimated to have caused a loss of property in excess of $1 million for a Lewis County business that specializes in recycling wastewater treatment plant biosolids for fertilizer.

Fire Mountain Farms, a family business, also raises cattle.

“Luckily our cow operation is up on Burnt Ridge,” Ryan Thode, vice president of operations said this morning.

Thode this morning was at the facility on the 300 block of state Route 508, having spent the past several hours watching for hot spots and salvaging what he could, he said. The fire department left around 4 a.m., he said.

Firefighters called just before 8 p.m. last night arrived to find the large metal building filled with flames, according to the newly named Newaukum Valley Fire and Rescue; formerly Lewis County Fire District 5.

A department spokesperson in a news release said the structure and contents are considered a complete loss.

Spokesperson Lt. Laura Hanson indicated no one was injured.

Twenty personnel from their department and five neighboring agencies battled the blaze, according to Hanson. Initial reports to the sheriff’s office indicated a gas pipeline nearby was involved or threatened, but a deputy determined that wasn’t the case, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

While numerous ordinary shop items inside caused explosions – propane and welding tanks, an air compressor – what took the longest was dealing with the hay, Fire Chief Gregg Peterson said.

An excavator was used to retrieve each bail one by one, and break it up while firefighters sprayed it down, he said.

The business owners were not present at the time of the fire, according to Hanson. A fire investigator and the sheriff’s office are looking into the cause.

The building is described as 150 feet by 40 feet, with a lean-to attached shed on the back and a loft area.

It contained farm equipment and fabrication tools, among them were dredgers the company uses to dredge treatment plant lagoons.

“Unfortunately, we had all three stored in there,” Thode said.

Thode estimated they had around 500 bales of hay inside, for sale, and tons of barley which would have fed their own animals.

He, his father and mother also lost eight motorcycles, he said. He said he was able to salvage one replica Indian sidecar.

Tyler C. Abair is accompanied by his lawyer Shane O’Rourke in Lewis County Superior Court.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A Napavine area father accused of shaking his 4-month-old daughter, causing a bruised brain pleaded guilty yesterday to a much lesser offense than originally charged with.

Prosecutors concluded the evidence didn’t show that Tyler C. Abair committed first-degree assault, and he pleaded guilty to third-degree assault instead.

“In this particular case, the child has recovered,” Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Senior Deputy Prosecutor Will Halstead said.

Abair was arrested last spring, a month after an incident in which he said the infant choked on formula and stopped breathing. He acknowledged that he shook her, but also that he was terrified and didn’t know CPR, according to court documents.

Court documents referenced a doctor who indicated the child exhibited classic but not severe signs of Shaken Baby Syndrome.

The 23-year-old was living with his ex-wife with whom he was reconciling, and their twins, staying at home caring for them while she worked.

Halstead said Abair’s actions were negligent, but lacked intent to harm the baby; the difference between the two offenses.

Halstead noted to the judge yesterday afternoon in Lewis County Superior Court that a workup on the other twin left them believing the hemorrhaging came from birth.

Abair was represented by defense attorney Shane O’Rourke

Abair also pleaded guilty to second-degree theft, for separate conduct that was not previously charged.

Halstead told the judge they wanted to do the sentencing on another day, so the child’s mother could attend the hearing.

When he is sentenced Jan. 28, he faces a standard sentencing range of 12 to 16 months, according to O’Rourke.

Abair was arrested on May 6, 2014, and remains in the Lewis County Jail.
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For background, read “High bail ordered for Chehalis dad in shaken baby case ” from Wednesday May 7, 2014, here

Jence S. Sawyer, left, and his attorney Don Blair listen to the prosecutor during proceedings today in Lewis County Superior Court.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A former Chehalis area man was grilled in court by a judge today, through his attorney, about how he got a court appointed lawyer if he was earning as much as $20 an hour in North Dakota before his recent arrest.

Court-appointed attorney Don Blair had just told the judge his client spent the last year and a half working 12-hour days, seven days a week as a carpenter. The Centralia attorney was explaining his request to lower the bail for Jence S. Sawyer, from $150,000 to $20,000.

“So why are you appointed then,” Lewis County Superior Court Judge Nelson Hunt asked.

Blair said he didn’t inquire as to why.

“Where did the money go,” Hunt asked.

Blair, as he queried his 23-year-old client, relayed to the judge a “bunch” was paid to a collection agency, and some spent on a new work truck that is sitting in the sheriff’s impound lot in North Dakota.

“Well, I’m going to be looking into this,” Hunt said.

Sawyer was in court this morning for his arraignment on two separate cases, one involving an underage girl and the other involving his estranged girlfriend, alleged to have occurred a year or so ago. He was charged last summer, but deputies only recently located him in Williston, North Dakota.

Lewis County sheriff’s deputies picked him this weekend and brought him back to Lewis County.

Sawyer is charged with second-degree assault and unlawful imprisonment, with sexual motivation, for a May 2014 incident in which he allegedly wouldn’t let his former girlfriend leave his home, although she finally was able to flee with her baby through a window.

He is also charged with third-degree rape of a child for an alleged encounter in November 2013 with a 15-year-old girl he befriended in Packwood.

Sawyer pleaded not guilty this morning and his trial was scheduled for the week of March 2. He has no prior felony history.

Judge Hunt did not reduce his bail.
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For background, read “Wanted Chehalis man found in North Dakota” from Monday January 12, 2015, here